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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/FWSH/30
Evaluating bioaccessibility and associated health risks of heavy metal(loid)s in
wastewater irrigated vegetables

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Ali Haider shah , Muhammad Shahid , Natasha , Sana Khalid , Ghulam Abbas , Muhammad
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Nadeem , Muhammad Farhan Saeed
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
Correspondence: muhammadshahid@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract
The shortage of freshwater and its heavy metal(loid) pollution is the serious concern in the
world, due to its impacts on socio-economic values. Non-availability of freshwater, drainage
activities become important for farmers in arid and semi-arid areas of Pakistan. The current
study explores the heavy metal(loid)s contamination, plant physiological and human health
risks due to chronic exposure to heavy metal(loid)s after wastewater, canal water and
groundwater irrigation. A pot experiment was conducted using widely cultivated crop
(Brassica oleracea). All the samples (wastewater, soil and plants) were analyzed for heavy
metal(loid)s content (As, Cd and Pb) in addition to other physicochemical parameters. Results
revealed elevated levels of Heavy metal(loid)s in groundwater and freshwater as compared to
wastewaters. Plants uptake high concentrations of these heavy metal(loid)s because of the
increased bioavailability after irrigation thereby, decreasing the total soil heavy metal(loid)s
concentration. Highest concentration of heavy metal(loid)s was present in the plants irrigated
with freshwater and groundwater. The health risk indices indicate severe carcinogenic and non-
carcinogenic risks, especially for groundwater and freshwater irrigated plants. Hence, it can be
concluded that highest concentration of the heavy metal(loid)s were presents in plants which
induce a number of risks to human health via consumption of heavy metal(loid)s-contaminated
grains. High heavy metal(loid)s build-up and potential risk were observed for groundwater and
freshwater irrigated plants. Therefore, monitoring of irrigation water is strictly required to
reduce or prevent the exposure to heavy metal(loid)s through edible plant parts.

Keywords: Brassica Oleracea, Heavy metalloid, Contamination, Cd

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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